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Triennial Today

Sunday June 28, 2015

Salt Lake City, Utah

48th Triennial Meeting of the Episcopal Church Women

Meet new Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church: Rev. Michael Curry

Episcopal Women’s History Project Annual Meeting

Monday. June 29 12:10-1 p.m.

Marriott Downtown. City Creek Luncheon. $6.95 All are invited. Membership forms will be available at luncheon and at the History Booth

THOUGHT OF THE DAY My first impression is that it is great to have the meeting in Salt Lake City near the mountains. The convention center is huge! Watching the excitement on people’s faces greeting each other and seeing people they haven’t seen for a while is fun. I really appreciate the work the ECW National Board has done in putting the meeting together - it is a huge task. They are doing a good job. This is my fourth Triennial.

Martha Estes, President ECW Diocese of Los Angeles

Triennial Today Staff

Christine Budzowski Marium F. Mohiuddin Editor

Editor in Chief Barbara Harris Media Team, Writer

Dottie Arthur Writer

Samar Fay Media Team, Writer

Linda Amerault Media Team

Jackie Meeks Writer

Mayra Brown Media Team

Shetwan Roberison Media Team

Stephanie Harris-Ash Writer

Bev Ruebech Media Team, Writer

Program Highlights 6:30 a.m. ECW 5K Run/Walk 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. UTO Ingathering & Eucharist 12:30 - 2 p.m. Distinguished Women’s Luncheon, Raddison Hotel 2:20-4 p.m. Workshops 1.

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Saying Yes to 21st Century Leadership - Lelanda Lee United Thank Offering: Best Financial Practices - Susan Howland Crowd Funding Works - Sara Milford Knit Together - Sandra Corp Girls Friendly Society: Changing Girls to Life Long Leaders - The Rev. Rowena Kemp and Margaret Noble Auto Sostenibilidad: Desafios y metas - Mayra Brown Women of the Passion, A Journey to teh Cross - The Rev. Mary Janda Celebrate Your Meeting Skills - Connie Skidmore Chair Yoga with a Christian Twist - Judy Spratling Women of Vision - Barbara Owens Bible, Women and Leadership - The Rev. Lindsay Hardin Freeman What Do Benedict and Our Baptismal Convenant Say to Us Today? - Sue Schlanbush and Kathyleen Funk

Go and Keep Going ...

The message for the UTO/ECW Dinner on Friday night was “Go!” and “Keep going!”

According to the keynote speaker, the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, bishop of North Carolina, the word “mission” doesn’t appear in the Bible. It uses the word “go.”

He said that Harriet Tubman, the famous guide for slaves along the Underground Railroad to freedom, sternly told her charges that if they heard the dogs, keep going; if they saw torches in the woods, keep going; if they were called everything but children of God, keep going.

“Christians, if you want to follow Jesus – keep going,” he exhorted.

Then he offered to keep his remarks short and received shouts of “Keep going!”

Skipping from the story of Abraham and Sarah to Moses and Joshua, he followed the theme of a God who is not static, but always moving.

Lest anyone think they don’t have what it takes to live into God’s way, he pointed out that Jesus’ followers were “not the A-Team of apostolic discipleship.”

“UTO, we need you to keep going,” he said. “Jesus said, ‘Follow me and my way will make you more than you ever dreamed or imagined.’”

During the evening, the UTO Board announced the year’s grant total, $1,558,006.85, and heard from three of the nine recipients of Young Adult Grants, who were given $1,250 each, in honor of UTO’s 125th anniversary this year. Grace Aheron in the Diocese of Virginia is founding an intentional community where four young people will “live a life with Jesus at the center.” Caitlyn Darnell is starting A Moveable Feast in North Carolina, taking a vehicle that is part food truck and part chapel to small colleges to teach parish

“Christians,if you want to follow Jesus – keep going,” ~ Rt. Rev. Michael Curry communities how to welcome young adults into their parish life, and to hear people’s stories. Katie Reeves, in the California Diocese of El Camino Real, will help congregations connect with the wider community by starting small gardens in their unused outdoor spaces.

“This is a new direction for UTO,” said Board President Barbara Schafer. “We are trying to bring young adults into our world of mission and ministry.”

Schafer led the UTO Board in honoring Bishop Leo Frade of the Diocese of Southeast Florida, a longtime champion of the UTO, whose diocese has garnered 29 grants during his 31 years of service.

In a moving ceremony, the Rev. Cornelia Eaton of the Diocese of Navaholand blessed with corn a ceremonial basket woven in a traditional white, black and red native design called the blessing way or the peaceful way. It will be used as a special alms basin for UTO’s 125th anniversary.

Hands at Work during Triennial A woman’s work is never done! One of our duties as humans, Christians and Episcopal Church Women is to utilize, exemplify and exhaust our skills of time, treasure and talent; we are not supposed to hide them under a bushel. An effective Triennial Meeting relies on all the hands at work prior to and during the Triennial meeting. Hands at work are in abundance. Seeing these hands at work is symbolic because it serves as ‘see one do one’; it is an impetus for the viewer to transform to a doer. Some of the hands I observed on Thursday, June 26th, fueled an ember in me to anticipate the new ways I could improve on myself and hopefully others in the process.

1. Volunteers in the Secretariat Episcopal Church Women from various areas in the country are volunteering their time to facilitate and improve the flow/events of this TM. They are eagerly waiting to enroll TM attendees for the 5K alk/Run on Sunday, June 28th. If you have not signed up prior to arrival in Utah there is still time; checks and money orders in the amount of $30 payable to DFMS (5K Walk/Run on the memo line) will be accepted.

2. Committee of Certification of Minutes The members of this committee diligently transcribe the minutes of the business sessions conducted during the TM. They utilize the utmost care to present the discussions as accurately as possible without allowing their personal emotions to permeate. In addition, they often have to perform further research to ensure that any misrepresentations of facts do not occur.

3. June Gerbracht of Province II’s Long Island June demonstrates ‘English Paper Piecing’ which is a popular technique for quilt making. These 86 pieces when compiled will yield a small 12 inch Christmas wreath. Currently, she is working on the green pieces; she plans on incorporating two more colors to complete this applique. A backing will be attached and this wreath will become a focal point for a wall hanging. June uses this craft as a time for reflection and meditation.

GFS Has Strong Presence at Triennial The Girls Friendly Society (GFS) of the United States, ranging in age from 10-20, has come to convention for the 1st time in their 138 year history. Girls from New Jersey and California have come to assist the ECW in the work of the Triennial, including assisting at the Plenary Sessions and at the 5K Race. For these girls it is an opportunity to connect to the larger body of women in the Episcopal Church. It is the first time some of them have traveled without their parents and it is a chance for them to spread their wings and see how capable they are.

GFS provides ministry to girls in a safe and accepting environment where Christ’s love is evident. GFS-USA is a community within the Episcopal Church and a member of the World Council of GFS. Through local GFS branches, the GFS-USA Month of Service, and GFS World Projects, we strive to respond to human need by serving others and seek to transform unjust structures of society, particularly for women and children.

GFS is presenting two workshops during Triennial, one on Sunday afternoon and one on Monday. If you are interested in starting a GFS branch at your church, please attend one of the workshops or contact Delores at gfsusapresident@gmail.com or visit their website at www.gfsus.org.

In Their Own Words

How did you first feel about coming to Triennial?

I felt excited and a little scared. I am looking forward to sightseeing and being able to attend convention.

Do you have that God given spirit within you to be ready to share with your other Sisters in Christ?

Yes, I am ready to share how much GFS cares and how thoughtful the girls of GFS are. I want to share the different kinds of things we do to help the world.

Why is it important to attend such an event?

It is important because I can learn from others and know more about our world.

What are YOU going to contribute to the event?

I am to share with others the story of GFS and represent the GFS to the greater church.

How do you feel being chosen to create the ECW LA logo for Triennial?

I was nervous but also excited about being able to design the new

logo. I felt honored being able to design something for such a big event. I am looking forward to seeing my design on the tee shirts and in other places.

How has the experience been so far?

Amazing! Sometimes I have been nervous about walking through crowds but I am still having a good time. I am looking forward to the 5K on Sunday.

Aiyana is a student at St. Mark’s Episcopal School in Upland California where she sings with the Choristers. She is going into 5th grade. She recently moved to Redlands, California and attends Trinity Church where she has joined the children’s choir. She loves running and art and her design was selected to the ECW Los Angeles logo for convention this year.

PHOTOS OF THE DAY

Episcopal Church Women ecwnational.org